1. How are the Chinese soldiers portrayed in these prints? The Japanese soldiers?
The Chinese soldiers are portrayed as barbarians and losers of the war. In the woodblock prints, they're always hiding behind bushes or mountains while getting shot and getting defeated by the Japanese, therefore being portrayed as cowardly. Also, their faces have that typical faces of evilness. On the other hand, Japanese soldiers are portrayed as fearless, and invincible heroes who only lead their country to victory. They're fearlessly attacking the Chinese in open areas, and they have that heroic stance.
2. Look at the weapons used by each side, are they different? How? Does this tell us anything about Japanese technological advancement?
The Chinese use old-fashioned swords, while the Japanese use rifles and Western swords. This tells us that through the Meiji Restoration, Japan was far advanced than any other eastern countries.
Baseball Club Rouser
1. Why do sports often become symbolic battlegrounds between nations?
They become symbolic battlegrounds between nations because every nation fights with determination to win the other nation. For instance, when nations have bad feelings towards each other, victory might give them a sense of superiority.
2. Is imperialism/colonialism simply about militarily and politically controlling another nation, or is it also about proving one’s self-perceived cultural superiority over another?
I don't think imperialism/colonialism is just about proving one’s self-perceived cultural superiority over another. I thought cultural superiority was justification for imperialism, for exploiting the resources of the colonies.
The Russo-Japanese War
1. Do artistic renditions or photographs depict the heroics of war better?
Yes, artistic renditions do depict the heroics of war better. They make the heroes stand out in the paintings by drawing them big and putting them in the center of the painting. For instance, “A Great Victory for the Great Japanese Imperial Navy, Banzai! ” and “The Battle of Liaoyang: The Enemy General Prince Kuropatkin, Having Tactical Difficulties and the Whole Army Being Defeated, Bravely Came Forward into the Field to Do Bloody Battle” both have heroes in the center of the painting with the typical heroic stance and brave, triumphant looks on their faces.
2. Do artistic renditions or photographs depict the horrors of the war better? (Consider all photographs of war that you have seen, both historical and contemporary)
I don't think artistic renditions or photographs depict the horrors of the war very well. Most wood block prints are symbolic, and they focus on the heroes of the war, rather than the realities. They do show some dying soldiers of the war, but the paintings make it seem like the dying men are unimportant. When looking at these paintings, you don't really realize the horrors of the war; you just see the big, heroic figures at the center of the paintings. Photographs don't do a great job either. They only show stilled images of progress of war; this doesn't mean that they depict the harsh realities of war. All I see is soldiers holding guns, or posing for a picture.
3. How does the medium affect the message? Can we say that, "The medium is the message" ?
Yes, you can say that "the medium is the message" because the way it's presented IS the message. There isn't a specific message that the photographs and renditions are supposed to have. They can be open to any interpretation; the message will be different for everyone, depending on how they see the photographs and renditions. How the subjects are presented are going to be seen differently by everyone.
4. Why is 1905 such a turning point in Japanese and World history? How might history have been different had Japan lost the Russo-Japanese War?
In both Japanese and World history, 1905 is a major turning point because the Russo-Japanese war showed 2 major points. First, it showed that Russia was falling apart. All the countries didn't expect Russia to lose to a tiny island country in Asia. It also revealed to Europeans that they couldn't look down on the Japanese anymore because it was a rising power. After this war, Japan was one of the major imperial powers. If Japan had lost the Russo-Japanese War, history would have been way different because that would've meant Russia was still a powerful country, and Japan still had a lot to catch up. It would have spurred another series of reforms in Japan, or another war between Japan and Russia because Japan had flaming ambitions to become one of the major powers.
May 11, 2011
Queen Min
Questions of Reading #1
a. Who was Queen Min?
b. Why was she chosen to be queen?
c. Was this a wise choice? From whose viewpoint?
d. How did she try to maintain Korea's independence? Did she succeed?
e. What can her death tell us about the measures imperialists will take to ensure their
interests?
f. Do you admire her? Why or why not?
Questions for Reading #2
a. Who was Isabella Bird?
b. What were Ms. Bird's first impressions of Queen Min?
c. What might the clothes and jewelry worn by Queen Min tell us about her view of
her place in Korean society?
d. Which personal characteristics of the Queen tell us about what kind of woman she
was?
e. Which personal characteristic of the Queen's do you feel is the most revealing?
Why?
f. Would you like to have met Queen Min? Why or why not?
Reading 1.
Queen Min: born in 1851 Noble family, married at 14.
She developed a policy of balancing Russian, Japanese and Chinese interest in Korea. From a Confucian point of view, a woman having that much authority wasn't right.
She tried to maintain independence by managing to gain more time to make progressive reforms. She tried to buy time.
Reading 2.
Isabella Bird was a nineteenth-century English explorer, writer, and a historian. She met Queen Min and she''s one of the few people who we can get information about.
She described Queen Min as a nice looking, slender, brilliant woman.
Isabella Bird recognized that Queen Min was a graceful, high-positioned, respected person in the Korean society. She had respect for Queen Min's grace and power and charms.
The eyes were cold and keen, and the general expression one
of brilliant intelligence.
As soon as she began to speak, and especially when she
became interested in conversation, her face lighted up into something very like
beauty...
She is a charming, respectable, brilliant person who is always keen.
Rachel's Wiki Page for Asian Studies
Sino-Japanese War Questions & Answers
Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895)
Woodblock prints of the Sino-Japanese War
1. How are the Chinese soldiers portrayed in these prints? The Japanese soldiers?
The Chinese soldiers are portrayed as barbarians and losers of the war. In the woodblock prints, they're always hiding behind bushes or mountains while getting shot and getting defeated by the Japanese, therefore being portrayed as cowardly. Also, their faces have that typical faces of evilness. On the other hand, Japanese soldiers are portrayed as fearless, and invincible heroes who only lead their country to victory. They're fearlessly attacking the Chinese in open areas, and they have that heroic stance.
2. Look at the weapons used by each side, are they different? How? Does this tell us anything about Japanese technological advancement?
The Chinese use old-fashioned swords, while the Japanese use rifles and Western swords. This tells us that through the Meiji Restoration, Japan was far advanced than any other eastern countries.
Baseball Club Rouser
1. Why do sports often become symbolic battlegrounds between nations?
They become symbolic battlegrounds between nations because every nation fights with determination to win the other nation. For instance, when nations have bad feelings towards each other, victory might give them a sense of superiority.
2. Is imperialism/colonialism simply about militarily and politically controlling another nation, or is it also about proving one’s self-perceived cultural superiority over another?
I don't think imperialism/colonialism is just about proving one’s self-perceived cultural superiority over another. I thought cultural superiority was justification for imperialism, for exploiting the resources of the colonies.
The Russo-Japanese War
1. Do artistic renditions or photographs depict the heroics of war better?
Yes, artistic renditions do depict the heroics of war better. They make the heroes stand out in the paintings by drawing them big and putting them in the center of the painting. For instance, “A Great Victory for the Great Japanese Imperial Navy, Banzai! ” and “The Battle of Liaoyang: The Enemy General Prince Kuropatkin, Having Tactical Difficulties and the Whole Army Being Defeated, Bravely Came Forward into the Field to Do Bloody Battle” both have heroes in the center of the painting with the typical heroic stance and brave, triumphant looks on their faces.
2. Do artistic renditions or photographs depict the horrors of the war better? (Consider all photographs of war that you have seen, both historical and contemporary)
I don't think artistic renditions or photographs depict the horrors of the war very well. Most wood block prints are symbolic, and they focus on the heroes of the war, rather than the realities. They do show some dying soldiers of the war, but the paintings make it seem like the dying men are unimportant. When looking at these paintings, you don't really realize the horrors of the war; you just see the big, heroic figures at the center of the paintings. Photographs don't do a great job either. They only show stilled images of progress of war; this doesn't mean that they depict the harsh realities of war. All I see is soldiers holding guns, or posing for a picture.
3. How does the medium affect the message? Can we say that, "The medium is the message" ?
Yes, you can say that "the medium is the message" because the way it's presented IS the message. There isn't a specific message that the photographs and renditions are supposed to have. They can be open to any interpretation; the message will be different for everyone, depending on how they see the photographs and renditions. How the subjects are presented are going to be seen differently by everyone.
4. Why is 1905 such a turning point in Japanese and World history? How might history have been different had Japan lost the Russo-Japanese War?
In both Japanese and World history, 1905 is a major turning point because the Russo-Japanese war showed 2 major points. First, it showed that Russia was falling apart. All the countries didn't expect Russia to lose to a tiny island country in Asia. It also revealed to Europeans that they couldn't look down on the Japanese anymore because it was a rising power. After this war, Japan was one of the major imperial powers. If Japan had lost the Russo-Japanese War, history would have been way different because that would've meant Russia was still a powerful country, and Japan still had a lot to catch up. It would have spurred another series of reforms in Japan, or another war between Japan and Russia because Japan had flaming ambitions to become one of the major powers.
May 11, 2011
Queen Min
Questions of Reading #1
a. Who was Queen Min?
b. Why was she chosen to be queen?
c. Was this a wise choice? From whose viewpoint?
d. How did she try to maintain Korea's independence? Did she succeed?
e. What can her death tell us about the measures imperialists will take to ensure their
interests?
f. Do you admire her? Why or why not?
Questions for Reading #2
a. Who was Isabella Bird?
b. What were Ms. Bird's first impressions of Queen Min?
c. What might the clothes and jewelry worn by Queen Min tell us about her view of
her place in Korean society?
d. Which personal characteristics of the Queen tell us about what kind of woman she
was?
e. Which personal characteristic of the Queen's do you feel is the most revealing?
Why?
f. Would you like to have met Queen Min? Why or why not?
Reading 1.
Queen Min: born in 1851 Noble family, married at 14.
She developed a policy of balancing Russian, Japanese and Chinese interest in Korea. From a Confucian point of view, a woman having that much authority wasn't right.
She tried to maintain independence by managing to gain more time to make progressive reforms. She tried to buy time.
Reading 2.
Isabella Bird was a nineteenth-century English explorer, writer, and a historian. She met Queen Min and she''s one of the few people who we can get information about.
She described Queen Min as a nice looking, slender, brilliant woman.
Isabella Bird recognized that Queen Min was a graceful, high-positioned, respected person in the Korean society. She had respect for Queen Min's grace and power and charms.
The eyes were cold and keen, and the general expression one
of brilliant intelligence.
As soon as she began to speak, and especially when she
became interested in conversation, her face lighted up into something very like
beauty...
She is a charming, respectable, brilliant person who is always keen.
TIMELINE PROJECT
http://www.dipity.com/0808027/Timeline-of-Chosun/